UPM-Biofore-Magazine-1-2017-ENG

>>

costs. Often a change becomes profitable after regulations are amended,” notes Svinhufvud. But he adds: “Unfortunately, opportunities for reusing side streams are oftenmissed because of the slow permit process. A separate permit is often needed for individual reuse applications. In Finland, this process is slow.” Open value networks Both Fortum and Lassila & Tikanoja are aware of the importance of new value networks in the future of waste management. “Internal streams and recycling have already been optimised. The future will see the expansion of wider value networks enabling different industries to share resources. Open communication and increased collaboration will create new interfaces for the reuse of waste. The sharing of resources will provide companies with a competitive edge. In a small country like Finland, and in Europe overall, different industries should be bold and open in their collaboration with others,” Tervo says. “New solutions will not come out of thin air in this industry. It will become increasingly important to know exactly what materials each side stream or type of waste contains. Innovations will probably be related to new combinations of material streams and the more efficient use of streams in specific applications. Digitalisation will facilitate this work, but it is not the magic answer to every challenge.” Svinhufvud concludes.

industry and other operators work in close collaboration to find solutions. Together we can influence decision- makers so that external regulations and steering do not limit the utilisation of side streams without justified grounds,” he adds. External regulations are among the biggest challenges for industrial companies. Regulations often vary regionally for different waste fractions, whichmakes decision-making more difficult. “Amending regulations is always a long process, during which the best possible compromise is sought by listening to different interest groups. Often these groups have differing views, which slows down the process. It can take a long time before changes are approved and implemented. It takes perseverance,” says Svinhufvud. Financial challenges are the most straightforward to tackle for most companies. However, if a wholly new infrastructure or service model is required, the relevant regulations need to be in place for companies to pass decisions concerning capital expenditure or investment in new technology. “We already have a good understanding of technical solutions and why materials behave as they do. We are aware of the impurities that may prevent them from being reused. Inmost cases, however, the technologies and procedures used for removing impurities are expensive, but sometimes the reduced environmental impacts are so great that changes are made despite the high

WASTE GLOSSARY

Beyond abstract diagrams Industrial side streams are not just an abstract concept in a diagram, but real materials that have to be stored somewhere. When Lassila & Tikanoja or Fortum receive side streammaterials fromUPM, the latter is legally responsible for the content of the delivery. The material is first sorted prior to handover and reuse in line with EWC (EuropeanWaste Catalogue) and RD (Recovery and Disposal) codes. “These codes do not determine whether a material is suitable or unsuitable for a specific reuse application. One EWC code covers a large variety of issues. The analysis needs to be muchmore specific,” Svinhufvud points out. Despite this, the codes have an important role, since different

waste types require different modes of transport and treatment solutions. If a submittedmaterial report is suspected to be inaccurate, a visual inspection or a more comprehensive laboratory analysis can be performed when the material is received. The analysis of the materials begins with a close inspection of the raw material. “We first examine the entire production chain and then analyse how the material could be recycled and

Lifecycle thinking has become part of our daily reality for consumers and industry alike.

End-of-Waste criteria = End-of-Waste is a status that can be granted to a waste fraction if it meets certain criteria and thus ceases to be waste and becomes a raw material instead. Waste ceases to be waste when it has undergone a recovery operation, is commonly used for specific purposes, has an existing market and demand, the use is lawful and use of the product has no adverse environmental or human health impacts. EWC = The European Waste Catalogue is a hierarchical list of waste types. It has twenty chapters and each of them has a code between 01 and 20. Individual waste fractions have a six-figure code. The codes for waste fractions from wood processing for example always begin with 03. Sawdust, shavings, cuttings, wood, particle board and veneer containing hazardous substances for example are classified under code 030104. RD = The Recovery and Disposal Code defines the ways in which a waste should be disposed of or how it can be recovered. R1 for example stands for use as fuel and D1 deposit to landfill.

processed. No short cuts can be taken in this process. The analysis is always carried out by a team of experts specialising in the industry in question,” Svinhufvud explains. According to the principles of the circular economy, resources should ideally be used where the most efficient reuse application is available. Careful specification of side streams, the chosenmode of transport and geographical location are critical in this equation. “Careful separation at source is important in building circular value networks. The documentation concerning received, transported and delivered materials should be unambiguous. Major industrial side streams should be recycled as close to their source as possible, which is why local presence and knowledge of local industrial operators is an advantage,” Tervo says. End-of-waste (EoW) status, the Holy Grail of the circular economy, is a status granted by authorities to products that can be used in a stable, new application once they are no longer suitable for their original end use. “Products can be classified as waste or side stream, and this classification has various consequences. However, the classification does not affect the actual usability of a material. If a sensible end use that is based on an actual need is available, the lack of EoW status doesn’t change anything,” Svinhufvud says. 

28 | BIOFORE

1/2017  | 29